Navy wrestling made a strong statement that it’s a legitimate contender in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association on Friday night.
Freshman Dylan Elmore won a critical bout at 165 pounds to break a tie, then sophomore Danny Wask closed out the dual meet with a decision at 174 as Navy upset No. 21 Lehigh, 21-15, before a boisterous crowd at Alumni Hall.
Elmore scored a three-point takedown in the third period to earn a 4-1 decision over Richie Grungo to give Navy an 18-15 lead. Wask, who came into the match ranked 14th nationally by InterMat, scored a three-point takedown in the third period, then defended multiple takedown attempts by Rylan Rogers to also post a 4-1 decision and clinch the match.
Junior Brendan Ferretti posted a pivotal pin at 133 pounds to jump-start Navy’s comeback from an early 12-3 deficit. The Midshipmen won five of the last six bouts, including three straight 4-1 decisions to close things out.
It was the 105th meeting between Navy and Lehigh, two of the most storied programs on the East Coast. That history alone made the dual meet win special for the Midshipmen, who improved to 3-3 overall and 3-0 in the EIWA.
“Navy and Lehigh have a lot of history and we had a lot of alumni here tonight. They always come back for the Army match and they always come back for the Lehigh match,” Navy coach Cary Kolat said. “It’s an important one for the program and not just because of the ranking, but because it’s a rivalry.”
Kolat wanted to start the match with the upper weights where Lehigh had a distinct advantage. That strategy proved sound as the Mids limited the damage early on, then turned things around beginning at 133.
“When we came through those lighter weights, we knew there were some matches that could go either way,” Kolat said.
Navy got off to a great start as sophomore Daniel Williams rallied from an early deficit to decision Caden Rogers at 184 pounds. Tied at 4 in the third period, Williams got deep with a strong double-leg shot and finished on top for the winning takedown with just over a minute to go. Williams added a riding point for an 8-4 win that improved his record to 8-7.
“That was really big because it gets the team going,” Kolat said of winning the opening bout. “I think the stat is 70% that the guy that gives up the first takedown loses the match, but you have to be part of the 30%. Seeing a guy come back is huge.”
There was some controversy at 184 where Navy freshman Payton Thomas gave sixth-ranked Michael Beard all he could handle. Thomas got an escape to start the third period and tie the match at 2, but got whistled for stalling in the final minute and Beard wound up winning 3-2.
Kolat was irate because he did not feel Thomas was backing up and thought the stall call came too quickly.
Lehigh’s ninth-ranked Owen Trephan (285) dominated inexperienced sophomore Ben Farabaugh with a 17-2 technical fall.
Navy freshman Nick Treaster battled hard at 125 pounds, but No. 14 Sheldon Seymour was too skilled and rolled to a 12-3 major decision that increased the Lehigh lead to 12-3.
Ferretti got the Navy rally started with an electrifying pin at 133 pounds. Ferretti used an arm bar to put Logan Wadle’s shoulders on the mat and applied the pressure until the referee slapped the mat.
“I thought that was a big deal because on paper there was a chance of this dual being tied and then it would have gone criteria,” said Kolat, noting Navy would have won the tiebreaker thanks to the fall. “And we needed to offset the heavyweight situation. Any time you get a pin it picks you up.”
That six-point win cut the deficit to three and team captain Josh Koderhandt tied the score 12-12 with a 5-2 decision at 141 pounds. Koderhandt, ranked seventh nationally, opened the second period with an escape then scored a three-point takedown to take the lead.
Lehigh retook the lead at 149 as No. 24 Malyke Hines decisioned Kaeman Smith, 2-1 thanks to a riding point.
A critical bout came at 157 pounds between a pair of sophomores that were very evenly matched. Navy’s Jonathan Ley and Lehigh’s Jadon Skellenger traded escapes and were tied 1-1 going into overtime. Ley was the aggressor and got a single-leg takedown 34 seconds into the extra session to earn a 4-1 decision that re-tied the team score, 15-15.
“I think what our guys did a great job of doing tonight is that when Lehigh tried to slow us down, we didn’t get eager and take wild shots. We stayed patient,” Kolat said. “We won critical times in the third period, whereas last year the dual favored them in the third period.”
Lehigh coach Pat Santoro said 157, 165 and 184 were the tossup bouts that ultimately proved decisive. The Mountain Hawks were not at full strength as they were missing several starters due to injury.
“We’ve got to be more excited in those tight matches. There were like three swing matches and we lost all of them. That can’t happen,” Santoro said. “Navy was just better tonight; We have a lot of work to do.”
Navy has no time to rest on its laurels as it hosts Harvard at 5 p.m. Saturday on senior night.
“Harvard’s coming in and always has sneaky guys. We cannot underestimate them,” Kolat said. “Our guys need to go lose some weight and get ready for tomorrow. We have to stay focused. They can’t dump all their energy into tonight. It’s over and now we want to go 2-0 for the weekend.”
Navy 21, Lehigh 15
125 — S. Seymour (L) maj. dec. N. Treaster, 10-2; 12-3
133 — B. Ferretti (N) pinned L. Wadle, 2:29; 12-9
141 — J. Koderhandt (N) dec. C. Bailey, 5-2; 12-12
149 — M. Hines (L) dec. K. Smith, 2-1; 15-12
157 — J. Ley (N) dec. J. Skellenger, 4-1; 15-15
165 — D. Elmore (N) dec. R. Grungo, 4-1; 18-15
174 — D. Wask (N) dec. R. Rogers, 4-1; 21-15
184 — D. Williams (N) dec. C. Rogers, 8-4; 3-0
197 — M. Beard (L) dec. P. Thomas, 3-2; 3-3
285 — O. Trephan (L) tech. fall B. Farabaugh, 18-2; 8-3